Meter boxes



Dec. 28, 1943. w. s. IRELAND, JR

METER BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1941 Artur/1e Dec. 28, 1943. w. 5 R N JR 2,337,661

METER BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1941 In umtar A Home Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE METER BOXES Ward Stone Ireland, Jr., Cocoa, Fla.

Application December 8, 1941, Serial No. 422,181

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in outdoor boxes for electrical meters of the plug-in type, and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a novel construction of interchangeable wall plates whereby, when. assembling a box, any desired number and arrangement of openings-may be economically had from a relatively small stock of parts.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an outdoor meter box of the-aforementioned character which will be rainproof.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide means whereby, when desired, two or more of the boxes may be expeditiously installed in either horizontal or vertical gangs.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an outdoor meter box of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a meter box constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation of the back plate.

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of a modification with the front plate omitted, showing the pipe connection in vertical section.

Figure 'l is a view in vertical section through a joint connecting a pair of the boxes.

Figure 8 is a View in vertical section through a joint for connecting a pair of boxes in accordance with the modification shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference numerals I and 2 designate, respectively, front and back plates of suitable cast metal. The back plate 2 is apertured to accommodate screws 3 for securing said back plate on a support Mounted on the back plate 2 is a conventional base receptacle 5. The front plate I has formed therein a circular opening 6 for the insertion of the usual meter blades in the receptacle 5.

The opposed faces of the front and back plates l and 2 have formed in their marginal portions intersecting grooves or channels 1. Each groove 1 includes an enlarged end portion 8 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The grooves 7 are for the reception of the longitudinal edges of removable and interchangeable wall plates 9 which may also be of any suitable cast metal; Grooves IQ are formed transversely in the inner faces of the end portions of the plates 9. The dimensions of the front and back plates I and 2 are such that, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, two of the plates 9 extend across the ends of the other plates 9 for receiving the ends thereof in the grooves it). The plates 9 are provided with any suitable number and arrangement of internally threaded pipe connections ll. These connections H may also be of any suitable size. Also, the connections ll may be omitted from the plates 9.

Screws l2, which are inserted from the back of the box to prevent tampering, draw the plates I and 2 together with the plates 9 therebetween, thereby firmly clamping the assembly. The heads of the screws l2 are countersunk in the back plate 2 (see Fig. 4). The back plate 2 has formed therein a threaded opening [3 for receiving a conduit. A plug I i closes the opening 13 when it is not to be used.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, reference numeral l5 designates sheet metal walls which may be used in lieu of the cast walls SE. The ends of the sheet metal walls it are connected by joints I6 comprising interlocking flanges. These interlocking flanges may be slipped laterally relative to each other for disconnecting the plates i5. The enlarged end portions 8 of the grooves I accommodate the joints it. The connections ll may be welded to the plates l5, as at l8.

In Figure '7 of the drawings, two of the boxes are joined together in a manner to provide a horizontally extending gang through the medium of a connection 9. The connection IS includes a pair of metallic plates 29 which are joined together in spaced, opposed relation by integral connecting webs 2i. The elements 23 and 2! are of suitable cast metal. The longitudinal marginal portions of the plates 26 are engaged in the grooves l in the abutting edges of the plates l and 2 and the ends of said plates 29 are engaged in the grooves if in the abutting end portions of the upper and lower plates 9. Of course, any desired number of the boxes may be joined together in this manner.

Referring now to Figure 8 of the drawings, reference numeral 22 designates generally a connector for joining together in a gang two or more of the boxes comprising the sheet metal plates [5 of Figure 6 of the drawings. Toward this end, the connector 22 includes sheet metal plates 23 which are joined by webs 24. At their ends, the sheet metal plates 23 terminate in flanges 25 for interlocking engagement with the adjacent complemental flanges on the upper and lower plates I 5 of the two boxes. Of course, the enlarged end portions 8 of the grooves 1 accommodate the connections between the plates 23 and the upper and lower plates l5. As previously suggested, the gangs of boxes may extend vertically instead of horizontally or in any other direction.

It will thus be seen that a construction has been provided whereby, with a relatively small stock of parts, a box or gang of boxes may be conveniently had with any suitable number, size and arrangement of connections. This, of course, is accomplished through the medium of the interchangeable wall plates which are firmly clamped between the front and back plates and 2, respectively, of the box. If desired, the joints between the various plates or elements may be sealed in any suitable manner.

By eliminating or closing the opening 6 in the front plate I, the box may be adapted to any desired type of rain-tight conduit box, such as a pull box, terminal box, et cetera. To use the cast sides of the box, the grooves on each side of the front and back plates must be longer than the grooves across the top and the bottom of said front and back plates. To use the sheet metal sides, the grooves must be of equal length. It will thus be seen that the same front and back plates may not be used for either the cast sides or the sheet metal sides.

It is believed that the many advantages of a meter box constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and

although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a pair of meter boxes, each box comprising vertical, spaced and opposed front and back plates having vertical and horizontal grooves in the marginal portions of their opposed faces, said front plates, also the back plates, being in edge abutting engagement, horizontal wall plates engaged in the horizontal grooves and having grooves in their adjacent end portions, and a connector for the boxes, said connector including a pair of spaced, opposed vertical wall plates having their vertical edges engaged in the adjacent vertical grooves of the front and back plates and further having their ends engaged in the grooves in the horizontal wall plates, and webs connecting the third named plates.

WARD STONE IRELAND, JR. 

